4alpha-methyl-7-isopropyl-1,2,3,4,4alpha,9,10,10alpha-octahydro-1-phenanthrol and derivatives thereof



Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES EF ATENT OFFICE Willard M. Hoehn, Wilmette, Ill., assignor to G. D.

Searle & 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois No Drawing. Application September 5, 1952, Serial No. 308,145

Claims. 1

CH(CHa):

wherein OR. is either a hydroxyl radical or a readily hydrolyzable acyloxy radical. Among the acyl radicals which R. can represent are such lower alkanoyl radicals as acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, isobutyryl, pentanoyl, and hexanoyl as well as such aroyl groups as benzoyl and phenacetyl.

ihe 4a-methyl-7-isopropyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10aoctahydro-l-phenanthrol is conveniently prepared from ia-methyl-i-isopropyl-1,2,3,4=,4a,9,- 10,IOa-actahydro-l-phenanthrone (cf. Brassi et al., Helvetica Chimica Acta, vol. 33, pages 1730- 1745 (1950)) by reduction with a metal hydride and, preferably, with an alkali metal aluminum hydride or alkali metal borohydride such as lithium aluminum hydride and sodium borohydride. This reduction can be carried out in lower diallzyl ethers', polyethers such as bis(,8-ethoxyethyl ether and cyclic ethers such as dioxane and tetrahydroiuran. In some cases it is preferable to use mixtures of the ether and such hydrocarbons as benzene, toluene or xylene in order to raise the reflux temperature. The reduction can also be carried out by hydrogenation in the presence of a noble metal catalyst.

The l-acyloxy derivatives can be obtained conveniently by conventional methods of esteriiication of the hydroxyl group using such agents as acetyl chloride, acetic anhydride, propionyl chloride, butyryl bromide, succinyl chloride, maleic anhydride, benzoyl chloride, phenylacetyl bromide and the like.

This invention makes available valuable hormonal and, especially, esterogenic agents. The compounds claimed are valuable a intermediates in organic synthesis. For instance the carbinol can be converted to the alkali salt by treatment with an alkali metal such as lithium, sodium and potassium, and the resulting metallo derivative can be treated with an organic halide to produce the l-ether. Among the suitable organic halides are the lower alkyl halides, aralkyl halides such as benzyl chloride and especially the dialkylaminoalkyl halides, and heterocyclylalkyl halides such as morpholinoalkyl halides, piperidinoalkyl halides, pyrrolidinoalkyl halides, piperazinoalkyl halides and the like which yield ethers of valuable medicinal properties, and particularly spasmolytics. The Q-methylene group can be converted to a carbonyl group by oxidation with chromic acid. in acetic acid, after protection of the hydroxy group by an ether or acyl group. The free l-carbinol group can be oxidized to the l-carbonyl group by Oppenauer EXAMPLE 1 4a methyl 7-z'sop1'opyZ-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-0ctahydro-1 -phenanthrol A solution of 21.5 parts of a-methyl-l-isopropyl 1,2,3,4,la,9,10,IOa-octahydro-l-phenanthrone in 400 parts of anhydrous ether is added to a solution 0140 parts of lithium aluminum hydride in 280 parts of anhydrous ether. The mixture is heated at reflux temperature for three hours, allowed to stand overnight and refluxed 6 hours longer with stirring. The reaction mixture is then cooled in an ice water bath and treated by slow addition of 670 parts of ethyl acetate. After standing for 12 hours the reaction mixture is cooled and treated by slow addi tion of 550 parts of water. Precipitation of the inorganic material occurs within a short time after which the ether solution is separated, washed thoroughly with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and ether stripped under vacuum. The la-methyl-l-isopropyl 1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,l0a-octahydro l-phenanthrol is distilled at about 132-134 C. and 0.05 mm. pressure. The infrared absorption spectrum indicates the disappearance of the ketonic group of the starting material which shows a maximum at 5.85 microns, and the presence of a hydroxyl group by a maximum at about 2.78 microns. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum shows ,a maximumat about 275 millimicrons and a molecular extinction coefiicient of 690. The compound has the structural formula --CH(CH:)5

WIDE 2 1 acetomy sic-methyl-7-isopropyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,-

10,10ct-octahydrophenanthrene A mixture of 10 parts of 4a-methyl-7-isopropyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydro-1 phenanthrol and 25 parts of pyridine is warmed to effect solution and then treated with 10 parts of acetic anhydride. The mixture is warmed at 80-90 C. for an hour and then poured into a solution of 120 parts of concentrated. hydrochloric acid in 2500 parts of Water containing 500 parts of ice. After warming to room temperature the mixture is ether extracted. This ether extract is washed with water, dilute sodium hydroxide solution and again with water, dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate, filtered and solvent stripped. The 1-acetoxy-4a-methyl 7 isopropyl 1,2,3,4,4a,9,l0,10a octahydrophenanthrene is distilled at about 120-124 C. and 0.03-0.05 mm. pressure. The infrared absorption spectrum shows the presence of the ester group by maxima at 5.81 and 7.95 microns. A molecular extinction coeflicient of 720 is found for the ultraviolet maximum observed at 276 millimicrons. The specific rotation of an alcoholic solution is +57.5%. The compound has the structural formula CH(CH3)2 CH3-COO EXAMPLE 3 1 -butanoylo:cy- 4a-methyZ-7-isopropyl 1,2,3,4,4d, 9,1 0,1 Oaoctahydrophenanthrene A solution of 13 parts of 4a-methy1-7-isopropyl 1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a octahydro 1 phenanthrol in hot pyridine is treated with 20 parts of butyric anhydride and, after heating at 80- 90" C. for 2 hours, the mixture is poured into a mixture of 250 parts of concentrated hydrochloric acid, 5000 parts of water and 100 parts of ice. After heating to room temperature the resulting mixture is extracted with ether and the ether extract is washed successively with water, dilute sodium hydroxide and again with water. The ether solution is dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, filtered and evapoe rated to yield the 1-butanoyloxy-4a-methyl-7- 4 isopropyl 1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a octahydrophenanthrene which is distilled at about 135-140" C'. and 0.03-0.05 mm. pressure. It shows an ultraviolet maximum at about 275 millimicrons and has the structural formula CHzCHgCHzO o o EZTAMPLE 4 A pyridine solution of "5 parts of ia-methyl-lisopropyl-l,2,3,4,4=a,9,10,10a-octahydro 1 phenanthrol is heated at C. for an hour with 7 parts of benzoyl chloride, after which the mixture is poured on an iced dilute hydrochloric acid solution. The resulting mixture is extracted with ether and the ether extract is washed with water, dilute potassium carbonate solution and again with water. The extract is then dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to yield the l-benzoyloxy-ia-methyl- 7 isopropyl 1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a octahydrophenanthrene as a light yellow, high boiling oil, which has the structural formula @-CH(CH3)2 i) CaH5-COO I claim: 1.- The compounds of the structural formula --CH(CH8)I where R is a member of the class consisting of hydrogen, (lower alkyl) -CO, benzoyl and (lower phenylalkyl) -CO- radicals.

2. la-methyl '7 isopropyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10aoctahydro-l-phenanthrol.

- 3. l-(lower alkanoyloxy) 4a-methyl-7-isopropyl-i,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrenes.

4. 1 acetoxy 4a -'methyl-'I-isopropyl-1,2,3, 4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene.

5. l-benzoyloxy-ea-methyl '7 -'isopropyl 1,2, 3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene.

No references cited. 

1. THE COMPOUNDS OF THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA 